One of the best parts of my job is spending time with business owners across Eagle County.

Whether it's over a cup of coffee in Eagle, a visit to a retail shop in Edwards, a conversation with a contractor in Gypsum, or a walk through a business in Vail, Beaver Creek, or Avon, I hear a lot of the same things.

There's plenty of optimism, but there's also plenty of frustration.

Business is good, but costs keep going up. We want to hire, but we can't find enough people. We found the right employee, but they can't find housing. We'd like to expand, but we're not sure what the next year looks like.

In many ways, that's exactly what the latest U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index found across the country. Nearly seven in 10 small businesses say their companies are healthy. Most expect revenues to grow over the next year, and many are planning to add employees.

That's encouraging.

But the survey also found that inflation remains the biggest concern for small-business owners. Confidence in local economic conditions has slipped, and fewer businesses are planning to increase investments.

In other words, business owners still believe in themselves. They're just less certain about everything around them.

That sounds familiar. Here in Eagle County, most business owners aren't looking for guarantees.

They know there's risk in starting and growing a business. They've accepted that from day one.

They're not asking for special treatment. They're asking for a fair shot.

They want employees to be able to live in or near the community where they work. They want some predictability when it comes to costs and regulations. They want to know that when they make a major investment, the ground rules won't suddenly change with new state rules and regulations.

Those seem like pretty reasonable expectations.

We have a lot working in our favor. People from all over the world want to visit here. Families want to build a life here. Entrepreneurs want to start businesses here.

But our success isn't automatic.

The businesses that serve residents and visitors every day are what make this place work. They're the restaurants, retailers, contractors, guides, manufacturers, professional service providers, and countless other employers who create jobs and keep our economy moving.

And while Eagle County is an incredible place to live and work, running a business here isn't easy.

Housing remains the biggest challenge. If employees can't find a place to live, businesses can't fill positions. If businesses can't fill positions, they can't grow. It's really that simple.

That's why we need to keep working together on practical solutions. Housing. Childcare. Transportation. Workforce development. Infrastructure. These are investments that help both residents and local businesses succeed.

At the same time, we should be thoughtful anytime we're considering new mandates, product bans, fees, or regulations. Before adding another layer of cost or complexity, we should ask a simple question: Will this make it easier or harder for a business to hire, invest, and grow?

That's not an argument for doing nothing. It's an argument for staying focused on competitiveness.

Because our advantages are real, but they're not guaranteed.

The employee who can't find housing can choose another community. The entrepreneur who can't make the numbers work here can invest somewhere else. The business owner who decides not to expand here has other options.

The good news is that people are still choosing Eagle County.

Every day, someone opens a business, hires an employee, signs a lease, buys equipment, or makes an investment in this community. They're betting on Eagle County's future.

We should do everything we can to make sure that's a smart bet.

Chris Romer is president & CEO of Vail Valley Partnership, 3-time national chamber of the year. Learn more at VailValleyPartnership.com